spinoff - Soda?

Do your children drink Soda? If so, how old were they when you let them? Just at a party? At home? with a lunch or dinner?

My older kids are 6 and 8 and don't drink soda at all! DH and I drink it, so we always have cans in the house. Neither child has ever expressed interest in drinking it. They drink water (we have a home water cooler) or milk with dinner every night.

My 5 year old was at a party the other day and along with the pizza, they served soda (Sprite) and apple juice (neither of which she drinks). I felt like I had to jump through hoops to get her a glass of water Everyone kept telling me to just give her the Sprite. She was the only one not drinking soda/juice. And I'm very laid back, if she wanted it, because it was a party, I would have let her. She just has no interest!

If my kids never had soda, I would be happy. I was allowed to have it from a very young age and not only is it terrible for you, I think it killed my teeth over the years! I cut back in recent years, but can't kick the habit! My brothers kids drink it like its water!

So how long have I got before they want to drink it?

Re: spinoff - Soda?

my older kids are just turning 5. My ds has tried it and liked it...orange of course, lol. They haven't really had an interest though. Most of my nieces and nephews whom are older don't like it and mostly drink water.

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I do not give my six-year-old child soda, ever. My MiL does though, when she babysits, but that is very rare. I do not drink soda and my husbands only drinks it when we go out to eat.

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My 9 year old doesn't drink soda. Doesn't ask for it and knows not to take it if someone offers it.

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My older son (7) tried soda at grandma's on a holiday (about a year or ago or so) and liked it - but only sprite and orange soda. He never had interest or took a sip and didn't like it in the past. He drinks it on special occasions or as a special treats (at a party, we go out to dinner). He thinks he is so cool now - lol. My almost 5 year old won't even try it.

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My kids are 6 and 3 and have never tasted soda. I plan to keep it that way for the time being. Actually I think I tried to get the older one to sip ginger ale once in the midst of a terrible stomach virus, but he was too sick to enjoy it.

In addition to soda, the kids don't drink any "fruit punch" or other artificially colored/flavored stuff that isn't 100% juice. That stuff is essentially non-carbonated soda.

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My kids are 10 and 8 and I don't really have a firm 'rule' about soda. I don't buy it so they don't ever have access to it here. At parties I will allow them to have some if they would like it - but for every half glass of soda they drink they have to have a full glass of water first. This way I know that they aren't guzzling pop because they are thirsty.. but behaving instead as though it were a treat akin to cupcakes, brownies, chocolate bars, etc..

BUT.. my kids are older and they have a good understanding of the foundations of nutrition plus a desire to be healthy and fuel their bodies with things that are good for them. I mean - they prefer spinach salad with grilled chicken and roasted beets to a McDonald's hamburger because (as Noah says) "It makes me feel better and stronger" - so if they want to have a little pop now and then I allow it!

Message edited 4/17/2012 9:27:42 AM.

Re: spinoff - Soda?

We don't have it in the house, so its not an everyday thing for any of us. Sprite is like a huge treat for my 7 year old. In fact, the first time my older two tried Sprite they didn't like it and sometimes still don't really like it because they say it is too "spicy". LOL. They don't understand and arent' used to the carbonation!

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DS is 8 1/2, soda is a special ocasion treat and we limit it to sprite or rootbear. He drinks milk, water, 100% juice and we just started gatoraid with sports. The gatoraid Im not thrilled with but he only gets it during a game or TKD Sparing so its usually 1x a week.

Re: spinoff - Soda?

For the most part they don't drink it. They ask for water, lemonade, juice, iced tea, even.

They've had Sprite at parties where they only offered soda but that's about it.

(ages 8 & 10)

Message edited 4/17/2012 12:51:37 PM.

Re: spinoff - Soda?

Ds is 6 and doesn't drink soda. He doesn't like it. When he was 4 he tried sparkling water and didn't like it, so I told him soda was the same.

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My children are 3 and 5 years old and have never had soda. I drink seltzer, not soda, and they've never shown interest in trying it really so I've never offered. I don't think they will like the bubbles & I am glad about that.

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DD is almost 6. she has tried soda, but just a few sips of mine here and there as a treat. If someone offers her soda when we are out at a house, she tells them she isnt allowed. At a bday party, I wouldnt mind letting her have a little but not on a regular basis at all. Its far and few times that she even takes a few sips.

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DD who will be 8 in July just started drinking Sprite. DS who will be 6 next month has no desire to drink soda. They drink mostly water, so I don't mind the non-caffeinated sodas.

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My boys are 10 and (almost) 7 years old.

They do not like soda.

We don't have it at home, but they have tried it at friends' houses/ parties, etc...

They WANT to LIKE soda, they just don't. They don't like the carbonation.

As a side note- they also want to like gum, they try and try...but they just don't enjoy it.

Friends think I brainwashed my kids not to like gum or soda, but I swear...I didn't. They just truly don't want the stuff.

Re: spinoff - Soda?

Posted by joenick

My boys are 10 and (almost) 7 years old.

They do not like soda.

We don't have it at home, but they have tried it at friends' houses/ parties, etc...

They WANT to LIKE soda, they just don't. They don't like the carbonation.

Re: spinoff - Soda?

My kids are 2 and 5, they don't drink soda. My DH drinks pepsi, sometimes they will have a sip of his, mostly when I'm not around. Lol.

DS drinks milk with ovaltine, DD drinks plain milk.

Re: spinoff - Soda?

Unfortunately my kids like soda. I let them have it if we are out to dinner or a party. If I have any control over it (dinner or lunch when we order) I give my older DS half seltzer half sprite and the younger 3/4 seltzer to 1/4 sprite.

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Like others, don't keep it in the house, but I won't deprive them. My mother did the same. My almost 9 yo has had a couple of ounces here and there if we are at a party. If we go to restaurants/fast food we never get it. She has had sips of a diet soda that I occasionally will get.

I'm not even sure if my 6 yo has tried it.

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Mine are 5 and 6.5 and they do not drink soda on a regular basis. We will let them have it once every couple of months when we go out to dinner. Never Cola, usually just Sprite.

They have gotten ginger ale a couple of times when they had nausea or vomiting.

Re: spinoff - Soda?

Cai hates soda. I hope that sticks!!!!

Message edited 4/21/2012 8:25:39 PM.

Re: spinoff - Soda?

My kids don't drink soda. We don't let them! And, in fact, they both hate it! When they were little, my husband let them try it once as a joke and they have been hating it ever since! I guess it was a smart move on his part, even though I didn't approve back then!

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My kids like soda but we only let them have a little on weekends if we are out to lunch/dinner. During the week they drink water, juice, or milk.

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DS is 5 and shows no interest in soda at all.
I'm 100% fine with that!

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We don't like soda, so we don't keep it around. Once at the airport, I tried to get DS to drink soda, b/c that's all that was available (only Burger King was open and it was a mob and they were all out of juice and milk). He calls the carbonation "spicy"

One less thing to worry about - there are plenty of other things that they like and I would like to limit!